Team & Volunteer Spotlight
Khrystyna Demchenko
English<>Ukrainian/Russian Translator
”Working with Respond helped me realize that a right to translation should become one of the basic human rights…”
Saurabh Prashar
English<>Hindi & Punjabi Translator and Interpreter
“Expression is as important as food and water. Language access is fundamental for someone to express their thoughts and should be a fundamental right.”
Doğa Üçgül
Turkish Translator
“I know a lot of people, especially native Turkish speakers, have difficulty with English. I have always wanted to be helpful to those who are struggling. At Respond, I found a way to make my knowledge useful, and with this amazing organization, I know I am actually helping people and making an impact. “
Maritza Morales
Spanish Translator
“ Finding Respond and being able to be part of this fantastic and committed team has been an incredible honor and one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. I am delighted to work with the team!“
Antonella C
Spanish Team Translator
“I think that being a bridge between cultures and knowing that I’m helping people through my profession is what motivates me the most. I love that we’re constantly being challenged to translate different topics and I can learn a lot about them."
Tetyana Grygoryeva
Ukrainian and Russian Translator
“Knowing that my work supports my Ukrainian people, makes me feel complete and gives me a sense of being useful.”
Mohamed Farah
Somali<>English Translator and Interpreter
“Working with Respond Crisis I have an independent working schedule, good income. Translation is becoming a good career. I am also proud that I am helping with my knowledge and skills with the people that need it.”
Bishal Lamsal
Nepali Translator
“The way Respond helps people who face language barriers motivates me to be part of Respond. One of the things I like about Respond is cooperating and helping.”
Carmela Sagritalo
Tagalog and Spanish Translator
“When I learned about Respond Crisis Translation, it was a lightbulb moment. I finally discovered that my interest in languages could be something more. It turned a hobby into a mission.”
Izzat Waseem
Urdu and Pakistani Punjabi Translator
“Language is the greatest way to approach people. In fact, it’s the basic one. Reaching out to people, communicating with them in their language—makes the strongest connections ever.”
Camilla Zucchini
English, Russian & Slovak<>Italian Translator
“A booster shot for happiness and satisfaction, that is what Respond has been for me.”
Cho Lwin Phu
English<>Burmese Translator and Interpreter
“I love helping other people, especially when you can make a positive impact on their lives. Being on the Respond team makes me feel like my help would never go wasted. I can help people in need from far away, though not in person.”
Demeke Akalu
Oromo and Amharic Translator
“In my understanding language justice is about being heard regardless of any obstacles or any kind of discrimination I believe everyone of us have a voice and it should be heard.”
Ralph Olivier Pierre
Spanish, Haitian Creole and French Translator
“Language justice means everyone has the ability to be heard in their own language and to fully understand what is being said to them in any type of conversation.”
Aurora Lucas
Tagalog Translator
“What motivates me to be a part of Respond is knowing that to speak Tagalog and other fellow Filipinos means to find instant connection. I'm proud of how I have grown from being ashamed of my language to being proud of it now.”
Christiane Demgenski
French Translator
“Respond puts into action what I’ve intuitively felt since I was little: knowing languages breaks down barriers between people.”
Nathan Martin
Mixtec & Spanish Translator
“I love being able to help asylum seekers. By translating their documents into English, immigration judges will have a clear understanding of what they have experienced. Hopefully they will use the information to grant asylum to people who are in danger. I like to help because I think that most reasonable people, if they heard from asylum seekers in their own words, would want to protect them. I want asylum seekers to be heard, and I can do that through translation.”
Pierre Seide Beaubrun
Haitian Creole Translator
“Working for Respond has given me the opportunity to do something that I love doing and something that I get appreciated for. Even though I had to deal with some tough situations, like testing positive for Covid and all, it was a very positive experience for me.”
Laura Wagner
Haitian Creole Translator
“Working with Respond has allowed me to make a whole crew of new friends (most of whom I haven’t yet had the privilege of meeting in person!), both on the big Respond team and on the Kreyòl team. It has also given me the opportunity to assist some organizations whose work I’ve long admired.”
Danielle Josyle
Haitian Creole Translator
Danielle lends her voice to those who need to understand and express themselves, providing a linguistic platform for people to self-advocate for their own rights.